Plan to Charge Motorists to Access Roads in Nairobi

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Traffic snarl-up at Uhuru Highway in Nairobi in March 2020.
Kenyans.co.ke

The County Government of Nairobi is considering charging motorists who use petrol and diesel vehicles to access certain roads in the city to curb air pollution in Nairobi.



The Nairobi County Assembly has called for residents to give their views on the Sessional Paper No 2 of the Nairobi City County Air Quality Policy Document by March 12, 2021.

The document sets the ground for the demarcation of certain parts of Nairobi as Low Emission Zones where cars with petrol and diesel engines are not allowed.

Motorists on a Colossal Traffic Jam Along Busy Uhuru Highway in Nairobi
Traffic jam witnessed along busy Uhuru Highway in Nairobi in 2019
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

“The Nairobi City County Transport Bill, 2019 proposes that the County Executive Member may designate any area of the county to be a low emission zone.

“Petroleum or diesel-powered vehicles will therefore be prevented from accessing these zones. Failure to which such persons driving the vehicle will be liable to a penalty of fifty thousand shillings, an imprisonment not exceeding a year or to both,” the Sessional document reads. 

The transport bill further adds that the Nairobi CEC in charge of transport may allow such vehicles into the low emission zones upon payment of a climate mitigation fee.

“Any vehicle that does not display the proof of payment of the climate change mitigation fee shall be liable to an immediate penalty of five times the fee payable for one day,” the bill states.

Motorists with cars that use alternative fuel such as LPG and electric engines will not have to pay to access the areas which will be designated.

The practice has already taken off in London UK where motorists who aren’t able to purchase new electric cars are allowed to remodel their vehicle and convert them.

According to data from the county government, 60% of all the vehicles in Kenya are in Nairobi, with many of them being old and poorly maintained. This makes the air prone to pollution. 

Traffic-related emissions account for approximately 39 % of fine particulate matter emission.

The transport sector in the city is the highest emitting sector accounting for 45 % of greenhouse gas emissions in Nairobi.

Another cause of air pollution is the use of poor quality or adulterated fuel due to lack of regulation or implementation of vehicle and fuel standards.

Diesel and unleaded petrol emissions produced by vehicles contain hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which are leading causes of lung cancer and other respiratory conditions.

Traffic police officers stop motorist at a checkpoint. On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, NTSA issued a warning to motorists.
Traffic police officers stop motorists at a checkpoint along Nairobi - Nakuru Highway in May 2020.
Photo
NPS